Nearly one in five Americans is responsible for caring for an elderly parent. With the Baby Boom generation adding to the ranks of the aged every day, this statistic will most likely grow. If you find yourself responsible for caring for an aging parent or relative, you will most likely need the help and counsel of an experienced elder care attorney to help guide you through the specific challenges facing elderly Americans.

Elder care lawyers can assist with the following situations:

Hospice care

Adult Day Care

Nursing Home Care

Abuse

Paying for Elder Care

Long term care placement

Medicare and Medicaid payments

Assisted suicide

Health insurance options

Power of attorney

Transfer and preservation of assets

Social Security

Disability payments

Living Trusts

Living Wills

Conservators

Guardianships

Estate Planning

Probate

Employment age discrimination

Retirement Benefits

Pension Benefits and Disputes

Mental Health issues

Elder law is growing rapidly enough that there are attorneys who specialize in one particular area or another. When you search for an elder lawyer, make sure you are choosing from a few that have experience in the area that you need help with. Not every attorney will be experienced in every aspect of elder care law. Ask specifically the types of cases that they have been involved with that pertain to your situation. Check out their bios to see if they reference successful cases, look for reviews and get recommendations or referrals from other attorneys. Usually an attorney you have used in the past for other legal dealings will know someone they can recommend and be glad to share their name with you.

Another consideration is where the attorney is located. You will want someone that is local to where you need them as they will need to be familiar with the courts and laws in that area. Looking online is a good place to start to narrow down your field of choices.

Interviewing an attorney before you hire them is highly recommended. You need to know that you can work with the individual or firm and to see if you will be comfortable working with him or her. Also, insist on looking over retainer agreements and take the time to understand each of the provisions of that agreement before signing.